Editing Edge effects (section)

==Biodiversity==
Environmental conditions enable certain species of plants and animals to colonize habitat [[Geographic range limit|borders]]. Plants that colonize forest edges tend to be [[shade tolerance|shade-intolerant]]. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wales |first=Bruce A. |date=1972 |title=Vegetation Analysis of North and South Edges in a Mature Oak-Hickory Forest |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1942167 |journal=Ecological Monographs |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=451–471 |doi=10.2307/1942167 |jstor=1942167 |issn=0012-9615 |access-date=2023-02-14 |archive-date=2023-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214102333/https://www.jstor.org/stable/1942167 |url-status=live }}</ref> These plants also tend to be [[Desiccation tolerance|tolerant of dry conditions]], such as [[shrubs]] and [[vines]].  Animals that colonize tend to be those that require two or more habitats, such as white-tailed and [[mule deer]], [[elk]], [[cottontail rabbits]], blue jays, and [[American robin|robins]].{{cn|date=August 2022}} Some animals travel between habitats, while edge species are restricted to edges. Larger patches have increased native species biodiversity compared to smaller patches.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Noss |first=Reed F. |date=1999-03-22 |title=Assessing and monitoring forest biodiversity: A suggested framework and indicators |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112798003946 |journal=Forest Ecology and Management |language=en |volume=115 |issue=2 |pages=135–146 |doi=10.1016/S0378-1127(98)00394-6 |s2cid=8683460 |issn=0378-1127}}</ref> The width of the patch also influences diversity: an edge patch must be more pronounced than just a stark border in order to develop gradients of edge effects. 

Animals traveling between communities can create travel lanes along borders, which in turn increases light reaching plants along the lanes and promotes [[primary production]]. As more light reaches the plants, greater numbers and sizes can thrive. Increased primary production can increase numbers of herbivorous insects, followed by nesting birds and so on up the [[trophic level]]s.

In the case of wide and/or overgrown borders, some species can become restricted to one side of the border despite having the ability to inhabit the other. Sometimes, the edge effects result in [[abiotic]] and biotic conditions which diminish natural variation and threaten the original ecosystem. Detrimental edge effects are also seen in physical and chemical conditions of border species. For instance, fertilizer from an agricultural field could invade a bordering forest and contaminate the habitat. The three factors affecting edges can be summarized:
* Abiotic effect—Changes in the environmental conditions that result from the proximity to a structurally dissimilar matrix
* Direct biological effects—Changes in [[species abundance]] and distribution caused directly by physical conditions near the edge
* Indirect biological effects which involve changes in species interactions such as [[predation]],<ref>{{cite journal |author1= Valentine, E.C. |author2= Apol, C.A. | author3= Proppe, D.S. | year=2019| title= Predation on artificial avian nests is higher in forests bordering small anthropogenic openings| journal=Ibis| volume=161| pages=  662–673| doi= 10.1111/ibi.12662| issue=3|s2cid= 91309233 }}</ref> [[brood parasitism]], competition, [[herbivory]], and biotic [[pollination]] and [[seed dispersal]]<ref>{{cite journal
  | last = Murcia
  | first = C.
  | title = Edge effects in fragmented forests:implications for conservation
  | journal = Tree
  | volume = 20
  | issue = 2
  | pages = 58–62
  | year = 1995
  | url = https://owa.stevenson.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=f92c3d2bbd1746e4a1ff9899aeb03e1f&URL=http%3a%2f%2fresearch.eeescience.utoledo.edu%2flees%2fTeaching%2fEEES4760_05%2fMurcia95.pdf
  | doi = 10.1016/S0169-5347(00)88977-6
  | pmid = 21236953
  | access-date = 2011-12-06
  | archive-date = 2023-07-31
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230731180319/https://owa.stevenson.edu/owa/auth/logon.aspx?replaceCurrent=1&url=https%3a%2f%2fowa.stevenson.edu%2fowa%2fredir.aspx%3fURL%3dhttp%253a%252f%252fresearch.eeescience.utoledo.edu%252flees%252fTeaching%252fEEES4760_05%252fMurcia95.pdf%23C%3df92c3d2bbd1746e4a1ff9899aeb03e1f
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>